What do apple orchards, berry farms, and flower fields have in common with candy stores, toy stores, and IKEA? Why do kids always choose the treat with sprinkles? Why does confetti make people smile, as it cascades through the air? Why does time spent in a park with a high density of plant and bird life lead to greater wellbeing?

The answer to all of these questions lies in the idea of abundance.

Today, I explore this topic to better understand the joyful delight of abundance. However, we also need to talk about the danger of more, as there is a line between delight and danger that we should be aware of.

Society, marketing agencies, and influencers all play into this emotional delight of abundance, but I’m going to give you a few ways of satisfying this desire for more without actually needing more.

To celebrate 20 episodes, I’m also packing 20 pieces of confetti mail for my lovely listeners! All you have to do to enter the draw for some fun confetti mail (yes, snail mail physically delivered to you) is join the Joy Hunt! Share the glimmers of joy you’ve noticed in your environment and in your every day world on Instagram and tag @carryconfetti and use the hashtag #ccpjoyhunt :)

If you don’t have Instagram, email me what joyful things you find through photo or video, and that enters you in the draw too!

The Joy Hunt will last for a few more weeks, and then the names will be drawn ;)

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

In this episode, we explore the way celebration is a participatory form of joy that invites us into a deeper, more connected way of living.

Through stories that span cultures and language barriers, design aesthetics that are invitational, biblical mandates to pause for a party, and psychological insights into how joy shared is joy multiplied, you'll discover how intentional celebration can draw you closer to community and to God.

Whether you're in a season of victory or you're waiting in the valley, this episode will remind you why we carry confetti -- both for us and the people around us.

The Joy Hunt also lives on! Share your celebrations with me over email or on Instagram by tagging @carryconfetti and using #ccpjoyhunt :) I can't wait to experience some freudenfreude with you!

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

What if not having all the answers is part of the journey?

In this episode, we explore the joy of wonder — the kind that keeps us curious, open, and alive to the invisible work of God in and around us. From awe-inspiring moments in nature to the quiet mysteries of faith, we’ll talk about why chasing wonder isn’t about escaping reality, but rather leaning deeper into it knowing a bigger picture is at play. And also knowing spiritual forces we cannot see are at play too.

Join me as we celebrate curiosity, embrace the beauty of the unknown, and discover why the wonderful and miraculous just might be holy ground.

This is Part 3 in our series on the "aesthetics of joy" — a series that is a growing, beautiful collection, but also each episode can stand alone.

To join our Joy Hunt, share your photos of awe and wonder with me on Instagram by tagging @carryconfetti and using the hashtag #ccpjoyhunt or send me an email with a miracle story. I can't wait to hear how you go chasing wonder this week :)

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Have you ever been caught off guard by something unexpectedly beautiful or delightful?

In this episode, we explore the joy of surprise — the kind that shows up in whimsy, contrast, and those little moments that make us smile when we least expect it. I'll also dive into how God often works through the unexpected, surprising us with His plans, timing, and grace. These divine detours may not always make sense at first, but they often lead to the deepest joy.

Join me as we reflect on a story about the joy of bronze medalists, spiritual insights from surprise pregnancies in the Bible, and the playful nature of a God who delights in contrast and surprise.

If you find any joyful surprises in your environment this week that make you smile or perhaps God surprises you in some way, share it with me by posting on Instagram and include #ccpjoyhunt or send me an email: carryconfettipodcast@gmail.com

Would love to hear from you!

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Y'all, stop being so serious!! A Spirit-filled life should be a playful life, and I'm gonna tell you why.

Today, we kick off a 10-week series inspired by the "aesthetics of joy" identified in Ingrid Fetell Lee's book "Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness".

Each week, I'm going to focus on one particular aesthetic, and this episode is all about PLAY. How could a design or an object be playful? How is creation playful? And how do aesthetics of joy help us better understand God the Creator?

Come discover why play isn’t just for kids and why it might be one of the most spiritual things we can do in our pursuit of a joyful life.

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

What if gratitude isn’t just a nice idea, but rather a life-shifting, heart-healing, brain-rewiring practice?

In this episode, I'm talking about how thankfulness reshaped my mindset and softened my heart (and continues too!) and how it could impact yours. We'll walk through the story of the 10 lepers in Luke 17 and pause on the 1 who returned to say thank you (even though all 10 were healed).

We’ll also explore the science behind gratitude: how it can literally rewire our brains, reduce stress, and improve our relationships.

If you’ve ever struggled to stay thankful in hard seasons, found it difficult to notice the good, or wondered if gratitude is really that powerful, I hope you take the time to listen.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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This week's Confetti Recipe is a week-long gratitude challenge. For my listeners who don't have Instagram, you can still participate by screenshotting the 7 prompts below :)

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MONDAY: Send a voice note to someone today saying thank you or showing appreciation for them in some way (You can send voice notes on iMessage, Messenger, Instagram, and probably most other messaging apps these days)

TUESDAY: Leave a good review for a company you love, a product you love, or even a podcast you love ;)

WEDNESDAY: Write a thank you card -- old school with pen and paper (I don't care if you think your handwriting is bad, email is simply not the same as receiving a physical card)

THURSDAY: Get someone an appreciation gift (Could be as simple as a coffee and pastry or you could make it really personal if you know what that person loves, wants, or needs in this season)

FRIDAY: Send an email to someone who has impacted you at some point in your life and you still often think of the impact they made but have never told them (Maybe it's an old teacher, a sports coach, a therapist or counsellor, a pastor, an old friend, a family member, etc.)

SATURDAY: Start your morning with some songs about gratitude and thankfulness (blast them in your kitchen or in your car!) and if you need some recommendations, I love 'Gratitude' by Brandon Lake, 'I Thank God' by Maverick City Music, 'Thank You Lord' by Chris Tomlin, 'Waking Up' by We The Kingdom, 'Sing Wherever I Go' by We The Kingdom, and 'AMEN' by Forrest Frank

SUNDAY: Tell God everything you're thankful for throughout your day (I want you to actively notice the good in every moment and whisper little heart prayers of gratitude to God)

God bless y'all!

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

What if the joy you’re craving is waiting on the other side of forgiveness?

In this new episode, we’re continuing our conversation about forgiveness — not just why it matters, but how it heals. By the end of this episode, I hope you feel empowered to write a new narrative in your life — one not marked by cycles of pain and bitterness.

Through illustration and metaphor, I'm going to give you some practical tools to try in your own life. These tools have been used in the Stanford Forgiveness Project (run by Dr. Fred Luskin) or in an actual therapist's office to help a client journey through significant hurt.

If you’ve ever said, “I want to forgive, but I don’t know how,” this one’s for you.

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

What if the key to more peace and joy isn’t doing more… but rather letting go? Letting go of hurt. Letting go of grudges. Letting go of unforgiveness.

In this episode, we’re diving into what science says about the power of forgiveness — including fascinating research on how it impacts your mental and physical health. I’ll help you identify whether or not you have a ‘grievance story’ – a term created by Dr. Fred Luskin, author of “Forgive for Good”.

Then we’ll shift gears and look at what scripture teaches us: that forgiveness isn’t just a suggestion, it’s a command — one that frees us just as much as the people we forgive.

Whether you're holding on to a deep hurt or just trying to live with a lighter heart, this episode is for you.

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti